The match began under a heavy sky, with thunderstorms forcing a two‑and‑a‑half hour delay before kickoff, but once the rain cleared the Charleston Battery came out firing.
A stormy night in Jacksonville
Within the first nineteen minutes the Battery had already built a three‑goal lead, as Maalique Foster, Jeremy Kelly and Miguel Berry each found the net, turning the early minutes into a showcase of attacking precision.
Sporting Club Jacksonville answered after the break, with forward Wan Kuzain striking twice in quick succession — first just before halftime and again shortly after — to narrow the deficit.
The visitors’ struggles were compounded by a red card for captain Ryan Edwards, a disciplinary blow that left them a man down and added to a winless run that now stretches to sixteen games.
Charleston’s dominance was further evident when Alec Hughes converted a rebound in the 81st minute, while Berry added a second goal in the 53rd, sealing a 5‑2 final score.
Despite the victory, the Battery will soon travel to face Loudoun United on July 3, a test of whether their early‑season form can translate into sustained success against a different opponent.